San Francisco 49ers star Nick Bosa stirred up the sports world recently with a bold, unapologetic display of his political views. Following the 49ers’ narrow victory over the Dallas Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football,” Bosa made his way onto the field wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat.
With a quick nod to the slogan, he joined teammates Brock Purdy, George Kittle, and Isaac Guerendo as they celebrated with reporter Melissa Stark before he dashed off the field, leaving a strong impression.
When asked about the stunt, Bosa kept it brief: “I’m not gonna talk too much about it, but I think it’s an important time.”
His hat wasn’t just any old piece of merchandise; the white “MAGA” cap has become synonymous with President-elect Donald Trump, who had just clinched a historic victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, securing the 47th U.S. Presidency.
The defensive end’s display was met with mixed reactions, yet Bosa stood his ground, saying he has no regrets.
The NFL, however, wasn’t entirely on board with Bosa’s public political expression. The league has a clear rule against “wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages… which relate to political activities.”
Bosa’s gesture was seen as a rule violation, but according to an unnamed source who spoke to USA TODAY Sports [1], he won’t face suspension. Still, a fine seems to be in the cards, and it’s a price Bosa is ready to pay.
“I haven’t got [fined] yet, but if it comes, it comes,” he said, unfazed by the potential repercussions. “I don’t think my position on speaking about it is going to change.”
Nick Bosa said he knew he was risking a fine with his MAGA hat, but says “it was well worth it. … Clearly, the nation spoke.” pic.twitter.com/iSUF8AGppE [2]
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) November 6, 2024 [3]
Reflecting on the election night outcome, Bosa shared his enthusiasm: “It was fun. It was a good time. I stayed up.”
The four-time Pro Bowler, selected by the 49ers as the second overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, isn’t a stranger to controversy.
During his college years, Bosa found himself under fire for several social media posts, including one that called former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick a “clown,” and a few others containing questionable language. Despite deleting the posts and issuing an apology, Bosa’s outspoken nature has continued to follow him into the NFL.
In this latest chapter, Bosa appears to be sending a message about his beliefs, regardless of the consequences. His willingness to risk a league penalty for a cause he believes in has undoubtedly placed him in the national spotlight yet again. As Bosa put it, “Clearly, the nation spoke.”